Those walking away from court with an absolute discharge between 2018 and 2022 included 17 thugs found guilty of serious assault and attempted murder and 12 convicted of sexual assault. When an absolute discharge is imposed in more serious (solemn) cases, a conviction is recorded but this does not happen in less serious (summary) cases. Recent cases of absolute discharge in Scotland include a fireman who was let off despite subjecting his victim to “months of hell”. The previous month, Caitlyn Blackie was given an absolute discharge in Forfar after taking and sharing a photo of a couple having sex in a nightclub toilet. Absolute discharge is a long-standing available option for independent courts, with use of this sentence between 2018-19 and 2021-22 representing 0.5% of all sentences imposed.

Source: Express January 08, 2024 00:41 UTC